Mom Friendly Fitness

Three Moves To Use

Here it is! The three moves you can do three times a week during the holidays and feel less guilt over that piece of fudge. Guaranteed.

#1) The Pushup.

That’s right. Remember that GI Jane movie? Remember how you vowed to be JUST LIKE HER, with the cussing and the shaved head and the whole getup? Then, remember how you forgot all about that? It’s time to bring it back. Except maybe not the shaved head this time. Instead, think simple and time effective.

Is one set of twelve from your knees as much as you can muster before you pass out? Then do one set of fourteen just to prove to yourself you can. Start with one set from the knees. Are you shaking? Are you tired? no? Do a few from your toes. You can do it. Then, when you think you can’t, do one more. And that’s it! See? Don’t you feel accomplished already?

#2) The Jumpie.

I was first introduced to The Jumpie during Crew my junior year at college. This bad boy can make you sore in the places you did not know had muscles. In a wonderful wonderful way. You know those flabby inner-thigh muscles? Make ‘em hurt. Tone ‘em right up, that is, with the squat jump.

Place feet shoulder width apart. Squat keeping knees parallel to your feet. (Don’t let your knees go over your toes.) Jump up in the air and land in the same position as you started. Do this 25 times. If you feel up to it, do another set up pushups and repeat jumpies 25 times.

#3) The Ab Workout. You can pick from a plethora of ab workouts. I like to do one using a fitness ball like this. Do at least two sets of 25. You can alternate between situp-type (on the ball) and leg-lift type (lay with ball between legs and pull using ab muscles to bring legs up.)

The thing about these three particular moves is that you hit all major muscle groups. You can do this routine in roughly six minutes. I know the holidays can be a stressful, very eventful time, but try these three things first thing in the morning three times a week.

Why you want to be sore:

A) Your muscles are being stretched to new heights.
B) This is what makes muscles change and strengthen.
C) Which means burning more calories.
D) Which means less guilt over those pieces of fudge and an easier time getting in to a workout grove for the New Year.

There’s a good change we’ll have “Lose weight” or “Tone up” as part of our New Year resolution. But these three moves, three times a week, will get your mindset now to reach your goal for the spring. Don’t forget to give yourself 48 hours between these exercises and walk or stretch on your off days to relieve the soreness.

If you do them, let us know. So far? I’ve done two weeks of this. And my legs are stronger than they’ve been in months. And I love it.

Read more of Leslie’s sarcastic blahblablah at Mrs. Flinger and find podcast reviews, interviews, crafts, events and topics for the Seattle Parent at Mamaspod.Com. If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for “Mom Friendly Fitness,” email leslie@seattlemomblogs.com.